Requests for CSLC Support or Opposition to current legislation:
Members of CSLC who wish to present bills for consideration should complete this form and give it to our CSLC Legislative Chair: Chaer Robert (Crobert@cclponline.org)
Requests will be presented to CSLC membership at the next Monday program meeting and will be voted on the following week (giving members one week’s notice to consider the bill).
The Colorado Legislative Session runs from January through May. The next meeting will convene on February 24, 2020.
CSLC Bill Positions
March 9, 2020
SUPPORT
Senate Bill 20-009 Senators Rachel Zenzinger & Bob Rankin and Rep Barbara McLachlan
EXPAND ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Expands one of the two existing state Adult Education Grant Programs, established in 2014, to include not only the current partnerships with post-secondary institutions and job training and placement programs, but also partnerships with K-12 schools, since many of these students are caregivers to students and working to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills themselves.
Fiscal Note: $500,000. In Senate Appropriations
Senate Bill 20-029 Senators Rhonda Fields and Dominick Moreno and Representative James Coleman and Monica Duran
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR COLORADO WORK PROGRAM
Would increase the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) monthly grant for families by 5% and make an annual cost of living adjustment of 1.5%.
Fiscal note: Approximately $4 million from TANF State Reserve (federal dollars). In Senate Appropriations
Senate Bill 20-100 Senators Julie Gonzales and Jack Tate and Representative Jennie Arndt and Adrienne Benavidez
REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY
Repeals the Colorado Death Penalty
Fiscal Note: None. Passed House, to Governor
House Bill 20-1009 Representative Dominique Jackson and Senator Faith Winter
SUPPRESSING COURT RECORDS OF EVICTION PROCEEDINGS
Suppresses from public view courts records of proceedings which do not actual result in eviction. Also suppresses records of eviction if both parties agree to suppress record.
Fiscal note: None
Passed legislature, to the Governor
House Bill 20-1203 Representatives Emily Sirota and Matt Grey and Senator Julie Gonzales
HELPING FAMILIES GET AHEAD ACT
Doubles the state Earned Income Tax Credit and begins to actually pay the Colorado Child Tax Credit.
Pays for it by decoupling from new federal tax law allowing a 20% deduction on income for pass-through corporations.
Fiscal note: $155 million cost paid for by closing state income tax loophole for pass through corporations of about the same amount).
In House Appropriations.
FOR VOTE MARCH 9
Senate Bill 20-163 Senators Julie Gonzales and Kevin Priola and Representative Mullica
SCHOOL ENTRY IMMUNIZATIONS
The bill directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to make modifications to school entry immunization documents and processes. To increase the rate of childhood immunizations in Colorado
Fiscal note: 2020-21- $48,837; 2021-22- $26,555 House Health Insurance
House Bill 20-1332 Representatives Leslie Herod and Dominique Jackson & Senator Rhonda Fields
PROHIBIT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION SOURCE OF INCOME
Prohibits source of income discrimination in housing.
House Judiciary
SUPPORT
Senate Bill 20-009 Senators Rachel Zenzinger & Bob Rankin and Rep Barbara McLachlan
EXPAND ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Expands one of the two existing state Adult Education Grant Programs, established in 2014, to include not only the current partnerships with post-secondary institutions and job training and placement programs, but also partnerships with K-12 schools, since many of these students are caregivers to students and working to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills themselves.
Fiscal Note: $500,000. In Senate Appropriations
Senate Bill 20-029 Senators Rhonda Fields and Dominick Moreno and Representative James Coleman and Monica Duran
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR COLORADO WORK PROGRAM
Would increase the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) monthly grant for families by 5% and make an annual cost of living adjustment of 1.5%.
Fiscal note: Approximately $4 million from TANF State Reserve (federal dollars). In Senate Appropriations
House Bill 20-1009 Representative Dominique Jackson and Senator Faith Winter
SUPPRESSING COURT RECORDS OF EVICTION PROCEEDINGS
Suppresses from public view courts records of proceedings which do not actual result in eviction. Also suppresses records of eviction if both parties agree to suppress record.
Fiscal note: None In Senate Judiciary
SUPPORT REQUESTED
House Bill 20-1203 Representatives Emily Sirota and Matt Grey and Senator Julie Gonzales
HELPING FAMILIES GET AHEAD ACT
Doubles the state Earned Income Tax Credit and begins to actually pay the Colorado Child Tax Credit.
Pays for it by decoupling from new federal tax law allowing a 20% deduction on income for pass-through corporations.
Fiscal note: Not available (estimated revenue neutral- about $163 million cost paid for by closing state income tax loophole for pass through corporations of about the same amount). In House Finance.
Senate Bill 20-100 Senators Julie Gonzales and Jack Tate and Representative Jennie Arndt and Adrienne Benavidez
REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY
Repeals the Colorado Death Penalty
Please SUPPORT HB20-1009
Fairness in Access to Eviction Court Records
Sponsors: Rep. Dominique Jackson and Sen. Faith Winter
Problem: When an eviction is filed in court—even when it is dismissed for being unfounded or retaliatory—it produces a court record. This court record may be purchased by third party companies to include in “tenant screening reports,” and ultimately, it may be used to deny a person housing. This means that even when a tenant wins and gets the case dismissed, they still may end up losing in the long-run.
Fearing this “scarlet letter” and the consequences of a court record, many renters are afraid to defend their rights in court. When they receive a demand to pay a fee, some renters will comply by paying out of pocket even if the request is unfair or meritless.
However, an eviction filing is not the same as an eviction. In many cases, it is not an accurate reflection of someone’s history as a tenant and should not be used to deny someone housing.
Considering these issues, several states have implemented or are in the process of developing legislation that would limit public access to court records of dismissed evictions.
Solution: This bill provides that when an eviction is filed, it is initially “suppressed” from public access (meaning only the courts and the parties to the case can access the record) while the case is pending. This record would remain under suppression unless an eviction is ordered by the court. This policy would allow people to be able to defend their rights without fear of the ensuing court record.
This would apply to both evictions in conventional housing, as well as mobile home park evictions.
Please support HB20-1009 to bolster due process rights for renters.
Supporters of Fairness in Access to Eviction Court Record
9to5 Colorado
AARP Colorado
All Families Deserve a Chance Coalition
Apartment Association of Metro Denver
Apartment Association of Southern Colorado
Bayaud Enterprises
Center for Health Progress
Center Toward Self-Reliance
Colorado Apartment Association
Colorado Center on Law and Policy
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Colorado Cross Disability Coalition
Colorado Fiscal Institute
Colorado Lawyers Committee
Colorado Senior Lobby
Colorado Village Collaborative
Energy Outreach Colorado
Enterprise Community Partners
Fair Chance
Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
Jefferson County Food Policy Council
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado
Mental Health Colorado
Mile High Connects
Northern Colorado Rental Housing Association
People’s Advocacy Council
Raise Colorado
Rodfei Tzedek
Spring Institute
The Arc of Adams County
The Arc of Southwest Colorado
The Denver Foundation
The Independence Center
United for a New Economy (UNE)
Violence Free Colorado
Weld County Apartment Association
